Yucca Valley Airport – MOA Expansion Proposed

The Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center 29 Palms California recently published an Environmental Impact Statement proposing the expansion of MOA airspace to the south and west of the R2301 Complex.

The proposed MOA base is at 1,500 AGL and within one and a half miles of the Yucca Valley Airport. Additionally, this MOA Expansion will affect usage of the adjacent Victor and Jet airways as the ceiling of the propose expansion is Flight Level 400.

This expansion of military airspace potentially restricts transient aircraft traffic that would otherwise use the Yucca Valley Airport (L22). The proposed changes adversely affect the growth potential and economic development of the airport.

Yucca Valley airport plays a key role in the high deserts aviation future. It is a base of operation for summer firefighting in the surrounding environmentally sensitive desert and mountain environments.

The airport is a pick up point for Mercy Air Ambulance operation. The lack of ability to develop the Yucca Valley Airport due to Military Airspace infringement could impinge on the ability of the airport to remain a viable portion of the California and Federal Airspace Plans.

The expansion of military airspace that overlaps the existing airway structure or places an unrealistic floor of 1,500 AGL is thought to be counterproductive to aviation growth in the high desert.

The Boards of Directors for the Yucca Valley Airport District is requesting the assistance to help our Board to reduce the impact or require the Combat Center consider other solutions that would mitigate the impact on aviation operations at the Yucca Valley Airport while still achieving the Marine Corps readiness through training goals.